Tuesday, June 24, 2014

Blood Feud: Edward Klein v. His Critics

I just finished reading Marion Davies' memoirs about her life with "W.R." Hearst (she called him by his initials) entitled The Times We Had. I highly recommend this book, which can be found on Amazon or even at the Hearst Castle, because it details how great a love the two of them had for each other and anecdotes about the people they met. She didn't actually write the book but instead dictated her memoirs onto tape, and some years after her death, they were transcribed into book form.

It's sad the two of them never could marry, but W.R.'s wife wouldn't give him a divorce. The two had been estranged for a number of years when he met Marion, and he was smitten with her right away. The feeling was mutual despite the Grand Canyon age gap. Reading the memoirs it seemed he was a big old teddy bear of a guy who would do anything for her and for people he cared about. On her part, she seemed to be self-depreciating, especially when it came to her intelligence. She was much smarter than she ever gave herself credit for, plus people remembered her as being lovable and kind.

So why do I mention the two of them in connection with tabloid writer Ed Klein? Because there was a part in Marion's book where she mentions criticism and how W.R. never read criticism of himself because of how it affected one's confidence and belief in himself or herself. Ed Klein should take that advice from his numerous critics.

Although it's still early with the rotten tomatoes from his newest book, Blood Feud, which was just published today, we can assume they will be thrown if reviews of his previous books are any indication.